Just dropped 3rd gear

[Clive]

SIII 1973. I was driving to work yesterday, downshifted and could not engage third...all other gears work fine, but it will not shift into third. I drained the oil out of the mainbox through a paper filter and felt around inside the drain hole. No bits of gear or synchro clips that i could find or see there.
Has anyone experienced this abrupt loss of a gear.
Much appreciate suggestions...thank you. Clive

[Tim Smith]

I'm guessing that this has to do with the linkage on the top of the gearbox. It's easy to get a look at it through the yellow knob's holding plate and if you need to open it up it would be pretty accessible by removing the tunnel cover.

[BackInA88]

Can you get it in 4th?

[a109]

When this happened to me it was the synchro clips.
John

[Clive]

Yes, I can get it in all other gears except 3rd....

[BackInA88]

Sounds like one of the synchro spring clips could be out of place.
I have read that these clips/springs can be replaced without removing the trans.
But none of the posts I have read have had any luck doing it.
This would suck as you would have to remove the floor panels and remove the trans shifter rod top cover. Than you might be able to move it back in place.
But if it moved once it might move again?
To replace the synchro assembly you have to remove the trans.

Or something has gotten wedged between the trans top cover and the shifting block on the shift rod that the shifter ball end sticks in.
Maybe a small stone, a piece of wood and old bolt?
This is the easiest to check.
It's the shift rod on the left side.
You maybe able to see it if you remove the plug from the side of the trans tunnel cover?

Good luck

[Clive]

Thanks very much for comments and suggestions. As expected above it was indeed a spring clip on the 3/4 selector that had broken. Replacing it was not a lot of fun...not a lot of space in there...destroyed the first replacement spring trying to get it in until I figured there was a small ridge at the back of the sliding gear that it was getting caught up on. Once I pried up the fore end of the spring (awkward) it slid home and clicked into place as pretty as you please.

[daveb]

To replace the synchro assembly you have to remove the trans.

technically this is not true. you could slide the trans back a few inches and pull the bellhousing and top cover. might save a little time over pulling the seatbox and breaking the transfer box from the gearbox etc. While you are in there you can replace most of the bearings too, and the clutch. (Ask me how I know this) Minor point but just for the record if this is the only problem you have you could save quite a bit of disassembly by NOT pulling the entire gearbox out of the car.

[Les Parker]

Clive,
Glad to learn that you are back on the road again.
Perseverance pays off, again !!
Good to know that the clips we sent down worked for you.

[Chris McKnight]

technically this is not true. you could slide the trans back a few inches and pull the bellhousing and top cover. might save a little time over pulling the seatbox and breaking the transfer box from the gearbox etc.

For what it's worth, you don't need to pull the seatbox to get the transmission out. When I rebuilt my transmission/transfer-case, I simply dropped the t-case down, then unbolted the transmission from the engine, and slid it back and down. It's tight, but by turning the gearbox just right the bellhousing will slide right through the tunnel cutout in the front of the seatbox. I don't have a removable crossmember either--stock series 3 88.

Chris